# The prefix "Be-"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 24, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904 "2003-12-24T21:12:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904/1 "2003-12-24T21:12:03Z")

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What is the origin and meaning of “be-,” as in bedraggled, bewitched, beatitude?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904/2 "2003-12-24T21:16:23Z")

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From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: be-  
Function: prefix  
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bi-, be-; akin to Old English bI by, near – more at BY  
1 : on : around : over \<bedaub\> \<besmear\>  
2 : to a great or greater degree : thoroughly \<befuddle\> \<berate\>  
3 : excessively : ostentatiously – in intensive verbs formed from simple verbs \<bedeck\> and in adjectives based on adjectives ending in -ed \<beribboned\>  
4 : about : to : at : upon : against : across \<bestride\> \<bespeak\>  
5 : make : cause to be : treat as \<belittle\> \<befool\> \<befriend\>  
6 : call or dub especially excessively \<bedoctor\>  
7 : affect, afflict, treat, provide, or cover with especially excessively \<bedevil\> \<befog\>

> **[Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/)**
>
> The dictionary by Merriam-Webster is America's most trusted online dictionary for English word definitions, meanings, and pronunciation. #wordsmatter

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**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904/3 "2003-12-24T21:18:19Z")

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Thanks! 🙂

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**Author:** ![venterap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@venterap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/venterap)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-prefix-be/220904/4 "2003-12-25T22:01:18Z")

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I don’t think “beatitude” falls in that category.